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NATIONAL AFFAIRS

Overview of PM Narendra Modi’s Visit to Haryana, Chandigarh and Punjab on July 17, 2026 
Prime Minister (PM)  Narendra Modi visited Haryana, Union Territory (UT) Chandigarh and Punjab on July 17, 2026. During his visit, he flagged off India’s first Hydrogen train, laid the foundation stones and dedicated to the nation various development projects worth Rs 26,800 crore in Haryana (14,700 crore); UT Chandigarh (over 4,700 crore) and Punjab (over 5,470 crore).
Key highlights of Visit:
Visit to Haryana: PM Modi flagged off India’s first hydrogen-powered train between Jind and Sonipat at Jind Railway Station in Haryana.

• National Highway (NH) Projects: Later, he laid the foundation stone and dedicated the nation’s National Highway (NH) projects worth over Rs 12,470 crore during an event held in Eklavya Stadium in Jind,  Haryana. These projects included:  157.92-kilometer (km)-long four-lane Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway (Rs 9,680 crore); 33.81-km-long four-lane, partially access-controlled Ambala-Kala Amb National Highway (NH) on NH-7 and NH-344 (around Rs 1,184 crore); 40.60 km long Jind-Gohana Greenfield Highway on NH-352A;24.27 km long Hansi–Barwala Brownfield Highway Project; and 5.9 km-long elevated railway track (Rs 447 crore).
• Medical Infrastructure: He dedicated major medical institutions to the nation, including Pandit Neki Ram Sharma Government Medical College(GMC), in Bhiwani; Maharishi Chyawan Medical College and Rao Tula Ram Hospital, in Koriawas, Narnaul.
• Cultural Infrastructure:  He also laid the foundation stone of the Sikh Museum at Kurukshetra, Haryana, to be built in Umri village at a cost of Rs 170 crore.

Visit to Chandigarh: PM Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for development projects worth over Rs 4,700 crore, spanning sectors like: healthcare, education and road infrastructure, during an event held at Punjab Engineering College (PEC) in UT Chandigarh.

• Healthcare: PM Modi inaugurated the Advanced Mother and Child Centre and the Advanced Neurosciences Centre at Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh.
• Education: Additionally, he inaugurated and laid the foundation stone laying of academic infrastructure projects, including the inauguration of Kurukshetra Boys Hostel & Mess at PEC; Hostel Block in Government College, Sector 46 and foundation stone of Research Scholars’ Hostel at PEC.
• Road Infrastructure:  PM Modi inaugurated the six-lane Greenfield Highway linking Information Technology (IT) City and Kurali in Mohali district (Punjab) and laid the foundation stone of the Zirakpur Greenfield Bypass and the PR-7 Spur of the Ambala-Chandigarh Greenfield Highway.

Visit to Punjab: PM Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of rail and road infrastructure projects worth over Rs 5,470 crore, during a programme held at Jalandhar Cantonment in Jalandhar, Punjab.

• Some of the key railway projects: inauguration of 75 redeveloped railway stations (at a cost of Rs 1,570 crore) in 20 states under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme; inauguration of  the Daulatpur Chowk-Kartoli new rail line (around Rs 830 crore ); and flagged off  Amritsar (Chheharta)-Varanasi Sant Ravidas Express and Kartoli-Ambala train service, among others.

NITI Aayog’s IFI 2026:  Gujarat Leads Among All Large States, Followed by Maharashtra and TN
In July 2026, the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) released its latest report titled “Investment Friendliness Index (IFI 2026)” which provides a comprehensive and data-driven framework to assess the capabilities of states and Union Territories in attracting and sustaining investments. As per the index, Gujarat topped among all large states as well as in the overall ranking with a total score of 56.6.

• It is followed by Maharashtra (overall score of 53.7) and Tamil Nadu (TN) (overall score of 53.3) secured 2nd and 3rd positions in the index.

About IFI 2026:
Top 5 States: Overall, Gujarat, Maharashtra, TN, Goa (rank 4th,  score of 53.1); Odisha (ranked 5th, score of 52.4 ) featured among the top 5 states in the index.

• Together, these top 5 states account for 85% of total Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows.

Bottom 5 States/UTs: UT Lakshadweep ranked lowest in the index, with overall score of 24.5, followed by UT Ladakh (ranked 35th, score of 27.0); UT Andamand & Nicobar (A&N) Islands (ranked 34th, score of 30.2); Manipur (ranked 33rd, score of 32.3) and Sikkim (ranked 32nd, score of 36.6).
Classification: Based on its overall assessment, the index has placed:

•  05 States in top performers category: Goa, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Odisha, TN.
• 15 States/UTs in frontrunners category: Andhra Pradesh (AP), Assam, UT Chandigarh, UT Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh (HP), among others.
• 8 states/UTs in Emerging category: Bihar, UT Jammu & Kashmir (J&K), Jharkhand, Meghalaya, Nagaland, UT Puducherry, Punjab and West Bengal (WB).

MoSPI Releases Quarterly Update of PAIMANA Dashboard to Track  Infrastructure Sector in India 
In July 2026, the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released the quarterly update of the ‘Project Assessment, Infrastructure Monitoring & Analytics for Nation-building (PAIMANA)’ performance dashboard which presents  the performance of key infrastructure sectors through a set of standardized indicators.

• The latest quarterly release has added 44 new indicators, thereby expanding  India’s infrastructure monitoring framework to 165 indicators.

Sector-wise Performance:
Civil Aviation: A total of  98,920.10 tonnes of cargo was transported in April 2026 (+115% Year-on-Year, Y-o-Y) while the number of aerodromes nearly doubled over the last 10 years,  from 81 (2014) to 165 (at present).
Telecommunications: As per the data, wireless/mobile data consumption reached 2,85,376 petabytes (PB) during FY 26 (+24.7% Y-o-Y), the number of telephone subscribers increased to 133.06 crore (+10.7% Y-o-Y), and tele-density  reached 93.26% in FY26.
Road, Transport and Highways: 9,360 kilometres (kms) of National Highways (NHs)were constructed during FY26, electronic toll collection transactions reached Rs. 88 crores (39.7% YoY) in up to May, 2026.
Railways: The average carrying capacity of Broad Gauge wagons increased to a record 64.0 tonnes per wagon in 2024–25.
Power: As per the report, India’s storage requirements is estimated to increase more than 10-times over the next 10 years i.e. from 87 Gigawatt-hour (GWh) (in 2027–28) to 888 GWh (by 2035–36).

Cabinet Approves Developmental Projects: NIPU-2026, Railway Multitracking Projects, & Elevated Corridor Projects
In July 2026, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi, approved the National Investment Policy for Urea-2026 for Atmanirbhar Bharat (NIPU-2026), aimed at encouraging new investments in gas-based urea manufacturing units with an estimated 1 crore Metric Tonnes (MT) of additional production capacity.
Other Approvals:
Railways: It also approved two railway multitracking projects of the Ministry of Railways (MoR)  Paradeep–Haridaspur Doubling and Rajkharsawan–Dangoaposi Fourth Line with an estimated cost of Rs. 3,907 crore covering four districts across Odisha and Jharkhand.
Corridor: It approved two major elevated highway projects in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh (UP), with a combined investment of over Rs. 25,000 crore, to reduce traffic congestion and improve connectivity.
The 46.039 kilometre( km), six-lane Greenfield Ganga Elevated Corridor connecting National Highway (NH)-19 with the Varanasi Ring Road and the 43.218 km, predominantly six/four-lane Varuna Elevated Corridor connecting NH-31 with the Varanasi Ring Road under the Varanasi Decongestion Plan.

MoHUA Approves Guidelines for PARIVARTAN Scheme to Replace Old Trucks and Buses in NCR 
On 16 July 2026, Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), approved the operational guidelines for the PARIVARTAN (Programme for Accelerated Renewal and Incentivization of Vehicle Assets for Reducing Transport Air Pollution and Network Emissions) Scheme.

• The scheme aims to facilitate the replacement of old, highly polluting trucks and buses operating in the National Capital Region (NCR) with Bharat Stage (BS)-VI-compliant or Electric Vehicles (EVs), supporting Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi’s vision of cleaner mobility and improved air quality in Delhi-NCR.

About ‘PARIVARTAN’ Scheme:
Background:  The scheme was approved by the Union Cabinet on 3 June 2026 with a total outlay of Rs. 9,585 crore, including Rs. 5,041 crore as Central Government support.
Implementation : It will be implemented by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) through the National Capital Region Planning Board (NCRPB).
Incentives:  Eligible beneficiaries will receive Motor Vehicle Tax concessions, registration fee waivers, 5% interest subvention, minimum 8% Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) discount, fuel vouchers, and financial assistance for electric vehicle (EV) replacements.

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan Unveils Roadmap for ‘Viksit Krishi and Samruddh Kisan’ at ICAR’s 98th Foundation Day 
On 16 July 2026, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare (MoA&FW) and Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), unveiled the roadmap for ‘Viksit Krishi and Samruddh Kisan’ as a key pillar of Viksit Bharat 2047 during the 98th Foundation Day of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in New Delhi, Delhi.

• During the event, 43 new crop varieties, 17 technologies/products, and 14 publications were released, along with the signing of over 70 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) and technology licensing agreements to accelerate technology transfer to farmers.

Highlights of ‘Viksit Krishi and Samruddh Kisan’:
Climate-Resilient : ICAR will establish 100 Climate Smart Villages before its centenary to demonstrate climate-smart farming, integrated farming systems, water conservation, and climate adaptation models.
Mission ICAR-100: Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) will be transformed into innovation hubs, climate advisory centres, startup support centres, and farmer technology demonstration centres, with each KVK covering at least 100 villages.
 Digital Outreach:  Under the ‘One Institute-One Grand Innovation’ initiative, every ICAR institute will develop at least one transformational innovation within 2 years.

Chhattisgarh Becomes First Indian State to Introduce Risk-Based Business Approval System 
On 16 July 2026, the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly,  led by Chief Minister(CM) Vishnu Deo Sai, passed the Chhattisgarh Ease of Doing Business Act, 2026, making Chhattisgarh the first Indian state to introduce a comprehensive Risk-based and trust-based business approval framework.

• The new system aims to simplify regulatory approvals, promote investment, and benefit over 15 lakh Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) through faster, transparent, and accountable business processes.

Highlights of the Framework: 
Approvals:  Businesses will be classified by risk level, with low-risk enterprises receiving self-certification, simplified compliance, while high-risk projects will continue to undergo inspections.
Deemed Approvals:  Eligible applications not processed within the prescribed timeline will receive deemed (auto) approvals, ensuring time-bound service delivery.
Reforms:  The Act abolishes mandatory annual licence renewals, initially covers 43 services across 8 departments, and is expected to benefit over 1.5 million MSMEs.
Governance:  The Act will be implemented through a three-tier monitoring system headed by the Chief Secretary, District Collectors, and an Executive Council chaired by the CM.

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi Launches White Rabbit Technology-Based IST Distribution Demonstration Network 
In July 2026,, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution (MoCAF&PD) and Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), inaugurated the White Rabbit Technology-based Indian Standard Time (IST) Distribution Demonstration Network at the Regional Reference Standards Laboratory (RRSL), Jakkur, Bengaluru, Karnataka.

• The initiative, launched under the vision of “One Nation, One Time”, aims to establish a uniform, highly precise, secure, and indigenous IST network, reducing India’s dependence on foreign Global Positioning System (GPS)-based time sources and strengthening digital sovereignty.

Key Highlights:
Critical Sector Applications: The indigenous time distribution system will benefit sectors requiring highly accurate time synchronisation, including banking, financial markets, telecommunications, power grids, defence, digital governance, stock exchanges and 5G/6G communication networks.
Technology Used: The network uses White Rabbit Technology, an Ethernet-based precision time synchronisation protocol capable of delivering sub-nanosecond accuracy over fibre-optic networks. It combines the Precision Time Protocol (PTP) with Synchronous Ethernet (SyncE) for highly accurate time transfer.
Implementation: The project is implemented by the Legal Metrology Division, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution (MoCAFPD), with National Physical Laboratory (NPL), Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), and Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), following Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) protocols.

Akasa Air and BPCL Sign Landmark MoU to Accelerate Sustainable Aviation Fuel Adoption in India
In July 2026, Akasa Air, an Indian airline, partnered with Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote the adoption of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) aims to reduce carbon emissions from aviation in India.
Key Details of MoU:
Objective: The initiative will support long-term SAF supply by sharing demand projections, aiding production planning, and progressively raising blending levels as India’s domestic SAF ecosystem matures.
Collaboration: The partnership will jointly promote India’s SAF ecosystem through knowledge sharing, policy advocacy, and engagement with government and industry stakeholders.
Focus: The collaboration will focus on establishing a framework for the supply and offtake of SAF-blended Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) at designated airports across India.
Global Standards: The partnership supports India’s decarbonization goals and aligns with global aviation sustainability standards, including the International Civil Aviation Organization’(ICAO) Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA).
About Akasa Air: It is an Indian low-cost airline headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra, and was established in 2021.

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

Gujarat Bags Agriculture Leadership Award 2026 for Horticulture
In July 2026, Gujarat was honoured with the Agriculture Leadership Award 2026 for its performance in horticulture at the 17th Agriculture Leadership Conclave-2026 held in New Delhi, Delhi.

• Union Minister Rajnath Singh, Ministry of Defence (MoD), presented the award to Jitu Vaghani, Agriculture Minister, Government of Gujarat in the presence of Haribhau Kisanrao Bagde, Governor of Rajasthan.

About National Agriculture Leadership Award 2026:
Award: Introduced in 2008 on the recommendation of agricultural scientist M. S. Swaminathan, the Agriculture Leadership Award by Agriculture Today Group recognises exceptional innovations and performance in the agriculture sector by states and institutes.
Jury: The award selection committee is headed by Justice P. Sathasivam, former Chief Justice of India (CJI), reflecting the award’s credibility, transparency and prestige.
Agricultural Growth: Gujarat’s agriculture was transformed through Krushi Mahotsav, Soil Health Card, and drip irrigation, achieving 9.9% growth during the Tenth Five-Year Plan (2002–2007).

• The state’s horticulture sector grew significantly with improved irrigation, modern farming techniques, and government support.

Legacy: Gujarat secured the Agriculture Leadership Award for Best Agriculture State in 2009, 2014, 2018, and was honoured for exceptional performance in animal husbandry in 2019.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Skyroot Aerospace Successfully Launches India’s First Private Orbital Rocket ‘Vikram-1’ Under Mission Aagaman
In July 2026, Hyderabad (Telangana)-based Skyroot Aerospace Private Limited successfully launched Vikram-1, India’s first privately developed orbital-class launch vehicle, under ‘Mission Aagaman(arrival)’ from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC-SHAR), Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh (AP).

• The mission made India the third country, after the United States of America (USA) and China, to achieve private orbital launch capability following the Indian Space Policy 2023.

About Mission Aagaman:
Launch: The four-stage, seven-storey-tall Vikram-1 successfully injected all payloads into a 450-kilometre (km) Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at an inclination of 60 degrees on its maiden flight, achieving a successful orbital launch.
Payloads: The mission carried Skyroot Aerospace’s in-house SCOPE payload, Grahaa Space’s SOLARAS S3 technology demonstration satellite, Cosmoserve Space’s “Embrace” robotic arm for future space debris removal, and Germany’s DCUBED technology demonstration payloads (uD3PP and mD3RN).

• The mission also carried Cosmic Bloom, a lotus artwork made from lab-grown diamonds, and an 18-karat gold micro-rocket containing microscopic sculptures of Sir C.V. Raman, Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, and Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
• The mission also carried a handwritten postcard by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi bearing the message “Vande Mataram“, along with hundreds of handwritten postcards from scientists, engineers, and well-wishers.

Indian Analog Astronaut Capt Aman Johri Conducts Microgravity Space Research on Maharashtra Crops 
In July 2026,  Captain Aman Johri, Indian Analog Astronaut, successfully completed a microgravity research flight under Project Astra Farm, marking a significant milestone in India’s efforts to develop space biotechnology and sustainable food systems for future space missions.

• The mission focused on Maharashtra-grown onions and potatoes, flown aboard a specially designed passive microgravity payload in collaboration with the National Research Council Canada (NRC-CNRC) to study their behaviour in microgravity conditions.

About Microgravity Research Flight :
Experiment:Agricultural samples were exposed to microgravity conditions to study how plant tissues and cells respond to reduced gravity.

• The project is among India’s first initiatives integrating space agriculture, food technology, and crop resilience to support future space missions and food security.

Findings: The experiment exposed agricultural samples to microgravity, facilitating in-depth studies on how plant tissues and cellular structures adapt to reduced-gravity environments.
Nuclear Post-Processing: The crop samples will be irradiated using nuclear food technology at BARC (Bhabha Atomic Research Centre) under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), in collaboration with Hindustan Agro Co-Operative Limited, supported by  Government of Maharashtra.

Reliance Jio gets IN-SPACe approval for 1,600-satellite LEO network 
In July 2026, Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited (Jio) secured technical approval from the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) for its proposal to deploy a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellation of around 1,600 satellites.

• The assessment was carried out in consultation with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Wireless Planning & Coordination (WPC) wing of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).

Key Details of Approval:
Clearance: Backed by Indian Government’s regulatory support, it plans to file for orbital slots worldwide to deploy India’s first home-grown satellite broadband constellation under International Telecommunication Union (ITU), which regulates satellite frequencies and satellite locations
Framework: Reliance Jio plans a 4.5–5 Tbps (terabits per second) satellite internet constellation with 20–22 Indian ground stations, delivering superior capacity over existing satellite internet projects.
Services: Reliance Jio plans to provide Fixed Satellite Services (FSS) like broadband and cellular backhaul, along with Mobile Satellite Services (MSS) offering Direct-to-Device (D2D) connectivity, targeting both consumer and enterprise users.
Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited: Established in 2007 and headquartered in Ghansoli, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, is a subsidiary of Jio Platforms under Reliance Industries and stands as one of India’s largest telecom and digital services providers.

OBITUARY

West Indies Cricket Legend Sir Garfield Sobers Passes Away at 89
On 17 July 2026, Sir Garfield Sobers, legendary West Indies cricketer and one of the greatest all-rounders in cricket history, passed away in Saint Michael, Barbados, at the age of 89.

• He was born on 28 July 1936  in Bridgetown, Barbados.

About Sir Garfield Sobers: 
Career:  A left-handed batter, versatile left-arm bowler, and exceptional fielder, Sir Garfield Sobers played 93 Tests (1954–1974) for the West Indies, scoring 8,032 runs at an average of 57.78 and taking 235 wickets, earning recognition as cricket’s greatest all-rounder.
Captaincy:  He scored a then-record 365 runs against Pakistan in 1958, became the first cricketer to hit six sixes in an over in first-class cricket (1968), and captained the West Indies in 39 Test matches between 1965 and 1972.
Honours:  Knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1975, named among Wisden’s Five Cricketers of the 20th Century (2000), inducted into the International Cricket Council (ICC) Hall of Fame (2009), and honoured through the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy, awarded annually to the ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year.

IMPORTANT DAYS

Day of International Criminal Justice 2026 – 17 July 
Day of International Criminal Justice (International Justice Day) is observed annually on 17 July to commemorate the adoption of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in 1998 and to promote accountability for genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the crime of aggression.
Background: 
Rome Statute: The Rome Statute, the founding treaty of the International Criminal Court (ICC), was adopted on 17 July 1998 during the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries (UNDCP) held in Rome, Italy.
ICC Formation: Adopted by 120 countries, the treaty came into force on 1 July 2002, officially establishing the ICC. The Court has no jurisdiction over crimes committed before 1 July 2002.
International Justice Day: During the first Review Conference of the Rome Statute held in Kampala, Uganda, in 2010, 17 July was declared the Day of International Criminal Justice to commemorate the adoption of the Rome Statute.
Led by: The Day of International Criminal Justice is observed globally, with activities organised worldwide by the ICC and its partner organisations.

Nelson Mandela International Day 2026 – July 18 
The United Nations (UN) observes Nelson Mandela International Day (Mandela Day) annually across the globe on 18 July to commemorates the birth anniversary of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize laureate and the first democratically elected Black President of South Africa.

• 2026 Theme:  “It’s in our hands”

Background: 
Proclamation:  On 10 November 2009, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted Resolution A/RES/64/13, proclaiming 18 July of every year as Nelson Mandela International Day.
Resolution:  The resolution recognizes Nelson Mandela’s significant contribution to the global struggle for democracy, the promotion of social justice, poverty eradication, and the advancement of a culture of peace.
First Observance:  The first observance of Nelson Mandela International Day was held on 18 July 2010.

STATE NEWS

AR  Signs MoU with Norway’s Tidal Sail AS for India’s First River Kinetic Energy Demonstration Project 
In  July 2026, the Government of Arunachal Pradesh (AR) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Norway’s Tidal Sail AS to implement a 500-kilowatt (kw) River Kinetic Energy Demonstration Project, paving the way for India’s first River Kinetic Energy Demonstration Plant.

• The project will be implemented through the Centre for Earth Sciences & Himalayan Studies (CES&HS) under the India-Norway Green Partnership, with support from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) and Innovation Norway.

About the Energy Demonstration project: 
Technology: The project will generate clean electricity from river currents without major civil infrastructure, offering a cost-effective renewable energy solution.
Energy Security: It will provide decentralised power to remote areas, reduce fossil fuel dependence and carbon emissions, and strengthen Arunachal Pradesh’s clean energy portfolio.
India-Norway Cooperation: The initiative will enhance collaboration in renewable energy, geothermal energy, and sustainable infrastructure.
About River Kinetic Energy: River kinetic energy is a hydrokinetic renewable energy technology that generates electricity from the natural flow of river currents using submerged turbines, without the need for dams or reservoirs.

Telangana Teams Up with Microsoft to Set Up Green Skills CoE in Hyderabad 
In July 2026, the Government of Telangana signed an MoU with Microsoft, a leading American multinational technology company, to establish a Green Skills Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Hyderabad, Telangana to equip students and professionals with industry-relevant green skills and support sustainable workforce development.
About Green Skills CoE:
Objective: The Green Skills CoE, expected to become operational by August 2026, aims to equip youth with skills in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and sustainable manufacturing, while supporting Telangana’s life sciences and green manufacturing sectors.
Collaboration: The centre, with a focus on Green Pharma, is being established in collaboration with Microsoft, the 1M1B Foundation (One Million for One Billion), and the MeitY Startup Hub under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
Alignment: The initiative aligns with Telangana’s ‘Next-Generation Life Sciences Policy 2026–30’ and the state’s ‘Green Pharma City strategy.’

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